Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
The first series of computer vended stamps were issued through five different machines in two different cities.
Scott Catalog# CVP16, 17, 19 and 20
The values issued from this Machine #83 placed in Kensington, MD were $0.25 First Class rate, $1.00 Third Class rate, $1.69 Parcel Post rate, $2.40 Priority rate and the $8.75 Express Mail rate. I am missing the $1.00 Third Class rate value.
In many post offices today there are what are called APCs or Automated Postal Centers. They have a scale and a computer and touch-screen to help you get the right postage for your mail item. These APC machines are what are currently issuing Computer-Vended postage to this day (pictured below).
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I ,too have a collection of CVPs...some are quite interesting!
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i can imagine that $1.69 parcel post rate will be quite the challenge, in pretty much any kind of postage
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True enough, then again, I was pleased as punch to get these.
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New rate stamps
These were issued in a coil format with horizontal perforations. There are actually two types. The first type is pictured above. I think I have the second type but I don't have an image of it, and the difference is that the font is more block-shaped. These were issued when the first class rate changed from 25¢ to 29¢ in 1992.
CVP31 Type 1
There is also a CVP32 which is a coil with vertical perforations and while it is the same font as the CPV31 Type 2, the font size is larger.
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Smauggie - Scanned below is a page from my collection showing the other type with vertical perforations. The values were printed in OCR-A font on machines built by Unisys Corporation. Notice that the black zeroes are rectangles, not oval. The bottom row are a different variety, with a "1996" date in the lower left corner in red. There is a strip of 5 30-cent values that are MNH bought from a dealer, the rest were all saved from the trash while at work.
Linus
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This example has the initials APC on it indicating it came from an Automated Postal Center. These were issued individually as a sort of minisheet with a single stamp.
CVP54
As a side note I also got one of these same labels but it was repurposed in a rather unexpected fashion . . .
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I remember plate number coil dealers and collectors printing large quantities of penny stamps from the CVP vending machines for the stamps in between the coil number singles. Then they would switch to the rates of the time which were 29c and the postcard rate which was 20c if my memory serves.
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Linus, I noticed that your bottom row of CVP32 coils have years printed on them. Possible subtype?
CVP56
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Yes, there are two types of this issue: dated 1996 and no date.
Linus
I just remembered I have this Fleetwood First Day Cover in my collection with the 1996 subtype:
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I don't remember where I downloaded this ATM catalog for free (in German).
I don't know how current the prices are. (nor in what currency)
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Markus Seitz no longer provides any free catalog information, though it seems he once did.
CVP85 Sheet
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Thought you might like this one... Score was 21 to 31
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Below is obviously an computer-vended postage item generated at an APC but it is not included in the Scott catalog.
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#CVP85 in my 2020 Scott specialized.
Tad
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Ah, you are quite right. I was looking for the same form factor and not the same design. Thanks!
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One short-lived experiment was the Postal Buddy machine wherein one could purchase a computer-vended postal card. The program started in July of 1990 and ended in late 1992 or early 1993. I am sorry to say I could not find a photo of the Postal Buddy machine. Three separate postal cards were issued.
CVUX1 and CVUX2 are of the same design except that CVUX2 is in the denomination of 19 cents.
CVUX1
Reverse of CVUX1 Postal Card
The only one I am missing is the CVUX3 pictured below.
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Is this it, Antonio?
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You found one! It looks like the elder relative of the Automated Postal Center.
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There are three issues of the bunting flag design: CVP31 issued on Aug 20, 1992, CVP32 issued on Feb 19 1994, and CVP33 issued on Jan 26 1996.
These three issues have a total of six different IDs.
CVP31 original issue has two types with 3 additional subsets: CVP31a, CVP31b, and CVP31c. All have plate number 1
CVP31 Type I is dull gum with solid all over tagging rounded number fonts.
CVP31a Type I is shiny gum with mottled all over tagging rounded number fonts.
CVP31b Type II is dull gum with solid all over tagging "square" number fonts.
CVP31c Type II is shiny gum with mottled all over tagging "square" number fonts.
CVP32 is shiny gum no year date on bottom left. Plate number A11
CVP33 is shiny gum with "1996" on bottom left. Plate number 11
On Linus page of stamps there is what appears to be unusual font on the 2nd from left and 3rd row from bottom. It looks like the number vertical lines are thick with thin horizontal lines. I have viewed 1,000s of these stamps and have never seen a thick/thin number font. This might possibly be an oddity or maybe an incorrect font.
Second row from bottom ther are two $3.00. Font appears identical but the left one appears to be "Bold" when comparing with the right $3.00 stamp.
Edit: I spoke too soon on the thick/thin number font. I have well over a 1,000 CVP31-33 and never noticed that I have many with thick/thin numbers. So it is probably be a variant font installed on a given machine. None I have are as pronounced as Linus' example.
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"On Linus page of stamps there is what appears to be unusual font on the 2nd from left and 3rd row from bottom. It looks like the number vertical lines are thick with thin horizontal lines. I have viewed 1,000s of these stamps and have never seen a thick/thin number font. This might possibly be an oddity or maybe an incorrect font."
This EFO could be better explained if the exact 1990s Unisys printing hardware for printing the "value" was known. I worked for Unisys during this time as a field engineer, so most likely it was printing hardware that I was familiar with. Based on my own 41+ years of experience working on all kinds of printers, the printhead or type-slug needed to be cleaned. Back in the day, us FEs would call this a "gob of goober" on the printhead, an easy fix.
"Second row from bottom ther are two $3.00. Font appears identical but the left one appears to be "Bold" when comparing with the right $3.00 stamp."
Again, based on my Unisys experience, this is consistent with a continuous-loop cloth ribbon. When the ribbon was freshly replaced, the print would be "Bold" and as it dried out and got used, it would print lighter and lighter.
This would be my explanation for these variations in print quality. Thanks quigngt for your observations.
Linus
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Thanks, Linus. I certainly have almost zero experience with printers (other than computer printers) so I am very happy to be educated by people who know what they are talking about.
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I have been trying to collect some Computer-Vended postage from the US. There is a specialized catalog for these, "Catalog on United States Variable Denomination Stamps (1989-2020)" by Chiu-Chin Chen and Karim Roder. A simpler listing is found in the Scott US Specialized Catalog of Stamps and Covers.
The first series of computer vended stamps were issued through five different machines in two different cities.
Scott Catalog# CVP16, 17, 19 and 20
The values issued from this Machine #83 placed in Kensington, MD were $0.25 First Class rate, $1.00 Third Class rate, $1.69 Parcel Post rate, $2.40 Priority rate and the $8.75 Express Mail rate. I am missing the $1.00 Third Class rate value.
In many post offices today there are what are called APCs or Automated Postal Centers. They have a scale and a computer and touch-screen to help you get the right postage for your mail item. These APC machines are what are currently issuing Computer-Vended postage to this day (pictured below).
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
I ,too have a collection of CVPs...some are quite interesting!
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
i can imagine that $1.69 parcel post rate will be quite the challenge, in pretty much any kind of postage
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
True enough, then again, I was pleased as punch to get these.
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
New rate stamps
These were issued in a coil format with horizontal perforations. There are actually two types. The first type is pictured above. I think I have the second type but I don't have an image of it, and the difference is that the font is more block-shaped. These were issued when the first class rate changed from 25¢ to 29¢ in 1992.
CVP31 Type 1
There is also a CVP32 which is a coil with vertical perforations and while it is the same font as the CPV31 Type 2, the font size is larger.
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
Smauggie - Scanned below is a page from my collection showing the other type with vertical perforations. The values were printed in OCR-A font on machines built by Unisys Corporation. Notice that the black zeroes are rectangles, not oval. The bottom row are a different variety, with a "1996" date in the lower left corner in red. There is a strip of 5 30-cent values that are MNH bought from a dealer, the rest were all saved from the trash while at work.
Linus
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
This example has the initials APC on it indicating it came from an Automated Postal Center. These were issued individually as a sort of minisheet with a single stamp.
CVP54
As a side note I also got one of these same labels but it was repurposed in a rather unexpected fashion . . .
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
I remember plate number coil dealers and collectors printing large quantities of penny stamps from the CVP vending machines for the stamps in between the coil number singles. Then they would switch to the rates of the time which were 29c and the postcard rate which was 20c if my memory serves.
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
Linus, I noticed that your bottom row of CVP32 coils have years printed on them. Possible subtype?
CVP56
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
Yes, there are two types of this issue: dated 1996 and no date.
Linus
I just remembered I have this Fleetwood First Day Cover in my collection with the 1996 subtype:
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03:17:47am
re: US Computer-Vended Postage
I don't remember where I downloaded this ATM catalog for free (in German).
I don't know how current the prices are. (nor in what currency)
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
Markus Seitz no longer provides any free catalog information, though it seems he once did.
CVP85 Sheet
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
Thought you might like this one... Score was 21 to 31
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
Below is obviously an computer-vended postage item generated at an APC but it is not included in the Scott catalog.
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
#CVP85 in my 2020 Scott specialized.
Tad
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
Ah, you are quite right. I was looking for the same form factor and not the same design. Thanks!
Login to Like
this post
re: US Computer-Vended Postage
One short-lived experiment was the Postal Buddy machine wherein one could purchase a computer-vended postal card. The program started in July of 1990 and ended in late 1992 or early 1993. I am sorry to say I could not find a photo of the Postal Buddy machine. Three separate postal cards were issued.
CVUX1 and CVUX2 are of the same design except that CVUX2 is in the denomination of 19 cents.
CVUX1
Reverse of CVUX1 Postal Card
The only one I am missing is the CVUX3 pictured below.
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
Is this it, Antonio?
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
You found one! It looks like the elder relative of the Automated Postal Center.
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12:42:25pm
re: US Computer-Vended Postage
There are three issues of the bunting flag design: CVP31 issued on Aug 20, 1992, CVP32 issued on Feb 19 1994, and CVP33 issued on Jan 26 1996.
These three issues have a total of six different IDs.
CVP31 original issue has two types with 3 additional subsets: CVP31a, CVP31b, and CVP31c. All have plate number 1
CVP31 Type I is dull gum with solid all over tagging rounded number fonts.
CVP31a Type I is shiny gum with mottled all over tagging rounded number fonts.
CVP31b Type II is dull gum with solid all over tagging "square" number fonts.
CVP31c Type II is shiny gum with mottled all over tagging "square" number fonts.
CVP32 is shiny gum no year date on bottom left. Plate number A11
CVP33 is shiny gum with "1996" on bottom left. Plate number 11
On Linus page of stamps there is what appears to be unusual font on the 2nd from left and 3rd row from bottom. It looks like the number vertical lines are thick with thin horizontal lines. I have viewed 1,000s of these stamps and have never seen a thick/thin number font. This might possibly be an oddity or maybe an incorrect font.
Second row from bottom ther are two $3.00. Font appears identical but the left one appears to be "Bold" when comparing with the right $3.00 stamp.
Edit: I spoke too soon on the thick/thin number font. I have well over a 1,000 CVP31-33 and never noticed that I have many with thick/thin numbers. So it is probably be a variant font installed on a given machine. None I have are as pronounced as Linus' example.
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re: US Computer-Vended Postage
"On Linus page of stamps there is what appears to be unusual font on the 2nd from left and 3rd row from bottom. It looks like the number vertical lines are thick with thin horizontal lines. I have viewed 1,000s of these stamps and have never seen a thick/thin number font. This might possibly be an oddity or maybe an incorrect font."
This EFO could be better explained if the exact 1990s Unisys printing hardware for printing the "value" was known. I worked for Unisys during this time as a field engineer, so most likely it was printing hardware that I was familiar with. Based on my own 41+ years of experience working on all kinds of printers, the printhead or type-slug needed to be cleaned. Back in the day, us FEs would call this a "gob of goober" on the printhead, an easy fix.
"Second row from bottom ther are two $3.00. Font appears identical but the left one appears to be "Bold" when comparing with the right $3.00 stamp."
Again, based on my Unisys experience, this is consistent with a continuous-loop cloth ribbon. When the ribbon was freshly replaced, the print would be "Bold" and as it dried out and got used, it would print lighter and lighter.
This would be my explanation for these variations in print quality. Thanks quigngt for your observations.
Linus
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05:29:35pm
re: US Computer-Vended Postage
Thanks, Linus. I certainly have almost zero experience with printers (other than computer printers) so I am very happy to be educated by people who know what they are talking about.
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